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AP Physics 1 vs 2 vs C: Difficulty, Prereqs, and Planning
As middle school students prepare to transition into high school, one important consideration is which AP classes to pursue. Among the science options, AP Physics often stands out due to its rigorous curriculum, recognized value by top STEM colleges, and the varying difficulty levels across its three course types.
AP courses are standardized, college-level courses designed by College Board, the not-for-profit organization that also designs and administers the SAT.
AP courses allowed students to…
- Challenge themselves with more advanced and fast-paced curriculum
- Improve their weighted GPA
- Earn college credits (depending on the college)
- Make their high school transcript stand out when applying to colleges
When it comes to Science—including AP physics—there are six AP courses to choose from.
Table: Difficulty Level and Recommended Timing of the 6 AP Science Courses
| AP Course | Topics | Difficulty (relative to other AP classes) | Recommended grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| AP Biology | Cells, Genetics, Evolution, Ecology | Medium | 10–12 |
| AP Chemistry | Atoms, Compounds, Chemical Reactions, Thermodynamics, Electrochemistry | Medium | 10–12 |
| AP Physics 1 | Kinematics, Dynamics, Energy, Momentum, Oscillations | Medium-Hard | 11 |
| AP Physics 2 | Thermodynamics, Electricity, Magnetism, Quantum Physics | Medium-Hard | 12 |
| AP Physics C | Kinematics, Dynamics, Energy, Oscillations, Electricity, Magnetism | Hard | 12 |
| AP Environmental Science | Ecosystems, Biodiversity, Energy Resources, Pollution | Easy | 9–12 |
AP Physics is a great choice for students that are proficient in Math. Here’s how students can decide which AP Physics courses to take, when to take them, and what they can do in middle school to make sure they are on the right track.
AP Physics: The Three Courses and Why They Matter
There are three AP Physics courses:
- AP Physics 1
- AP Physics 2
- AP Physics C
AP Physics as a whole is great for students that are passionate about Math. The various AP Physics courses will allow them to apply their Math knowledge to the forces that cause our universe to operate the way that it does.
All three AP Physics classes are quite challenging, as they require students to not only memorize advanced mathematical formulas but also develop a deep understanding of a variety of concepts. Students will need to understand how the math connects to the concepts, and they will need to be able to apply their knowledge to new situations they may not have seen before. Memorization alone is not enough to succeed in any of the three AP Physics courses.
AP Physics 1
AP Physics 1 focuses on mechanics (kinematics, dynamics, etc.), and uses Algebra as the basis for explaining those concepts.
1,723 colleges currently grant credit for AP Physics 1, including
- 4 of the 8 Ivy League schools
- 11 of the top 20 universities (as ranked by U.S. News & World Report)
The AP Credit Policy Search tool can be used to see which colleges grant credit for which AP courses, the minimum score required, and the number of credits granted.
Since the class uses Algebra as its foundation, students should only take AP Physics 1 if they have already taken and achieved high grades in Algebra and Algebra 2. The recommended grade to take AP Physics 1 is Grade 11. This will allow students time to complete Algebra and Algebra 2 beforehand. Students will also be able to decide if they like Physics or not after completing the class, allowing to make an informed decision about whether or not to take AP Physics 2 or AP Physics C in Grade 12.
In order to be ready for AP Physics 1 by Grade 11, students should
- Take Algebra by Grade 8
- Take Algebra 2 by Grade 10
Students who do not take Algebra until Grade 9 and Algebra 2 until Grade 11 will either have to wait until Grade 12 to take AP Physics 1, meaning that they will not have the opportunity to take AP Physics 2 or AP Physics C, or they will have to take AP Physics 1 concurrently with Algebra 2 in Grade 11, which is doable, but more difficult than taking Algebra 2 before AP Physics 1.
AP Physics 2
AP Physics 2 is a continuation of AP Physics 1. Like AP Physics 1, it is Algebra-based, but the curriculum covers different topics, such as thermodynamics, electricity, magnetism, and quantum physics.
1,668 colleges currently grant credit for AP Physics 2, including
- 4 of the 8 Ivy League schools
- 11 of the top 20 universities (as ranked by U.S. News & World Report)
Students should only take AP Physics 2 if they took AP Physics 1 the previous year and scored a 4 or 5 on the AP test.
AP Physics C
AP Physics C covers similar topics to AP Physics 1 and AP Physics 2, but it uses Calculus to explain them, rather than Algebra. There are actually two AP Physics C courses—AP Physics C: Mechanics and AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism—but they are usually taught together during one school year. At the end of the year, students will take two AP tests, one for each section.
1,859 colleges currently grant credit for AP Physics C: Mechanics, including
- 5 of the 8 Ivy League schools
- 16 of the top 20 universities (as ranked by U.S. News & World Report)
1,816 colleges currently grant credit for AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism, including
- 5 of the 8 Ivy League schools
- 16 of the top 20 universities (as ranked by U.S. News & World Report)
AP Physics C is the hardest AP Physics class, and likely the hardest of all of the AP Science classes. It is only recommended for students that scored a 4 or 5 in AP Physics 1 and scored a 4 or 5 in AP Precalculus, AP Calculus AB, or AP Calculus BC in a previous school year.
If students have not yet taken an AP Calculus course but scored a 4 or higher in both AP Physics 1 and AP Precalculus, then they may want to consider taking AP Physics C and one of the two AP Calculus classes in the same school year, as there is quite a bit of overlap between them. Students will be able to use the information that they are learning in one class to help them with the other class.
Table: Key Difference between AP Physics 1, 2 and C
| AP Course | Content | Math approach | College credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| AP Physics 1 | Mechanics | Algebra | Counts as 1 course |
| AP Physics 2 | Electricity and Magnetism | Algebra | Counts as 1 course |
| AP Physics C | Mechanics + Electricity and Magnetism | Calculus | Counts as 2 courses; accepted by more top universities than Physics 1 and 2 |
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Should I take AP Physics 2 or C?
Both AP Physics 2 and AP Physics C are challenging courses that will stand out on a transcript, especially for students that plan to pursue a STEM major in college. The choice of which one to take is largely a matter of personal preference.
AP Physics 2 is a good choice for students who…
- Want to learn about topics they aren’t already familiar with
- Haven’t taken Calculus or Precalculus
- Took Calculus and/or Precalculus, but didn’t do well
AP Physics C is a good choice for students who…
- Have experience with Calculus or Precalculus
- Enjoy Math
- Like exploring topics from multiple perspectives
- Want to take the most challenging classes
Since AP Physics C is technically two AP courses with two AP exams, students may be able to earn double the amount of credits by taking AP Physics C. The credits granted differ by college, but many universities grant credits for each of the two sections of AP Physics C.
University of California, Berkeley AP Credit Policy
| AP Course | Accepted for credit? | Min. score required | Number of credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| AP Physics 1 | Yes | 3 | 5 |
| AP Physics 2 | Yes | 3 | 5 |
| AP Physics C: Mechanics | Yes | 3 | 3 |
| AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | Yes | 3 | 3 |
Yale University AP Credit Policy
| AP Course | Accepted for credit? | Min. score required | Number of credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| AP Physics 1 | No | N/A | N/A |
| AP Physics 2 | No | N/A | N/A |
| AP Physics C: Mechanics | Yes | 5 | 1 |
| AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | Yes | 5 | 1 |
It is also possible to take AP Physics 2 and AP Physics C concurrently the year after taking AP Physics 1. This is not common, however, and it is only recommend for students that are passionate about Physics.
Do I have to take AP Physics 1 before I take AP Physics 2 or AP Physics C?
While it is recommended to take AP Physics 1 before AP Physics 2 or AP Physics C, College Board does not require it. Some high schools may have their own prerequisite requirements, however.
It is generally not a good idea to take AP Physics 2 without having taken AP Physics 1, as AP Physics 2 is a continuation of AP Physics 1, and some of the content may build on ideas from AP Physics 1.
For students that are proficient in Calculus, however, taking AP Physics C without having taken AP Physics 1 may be a valid decision, since AP Physics C covers the same Mechanics topics that AP Physics 1 focuses on.
Tips for Middle School Students Interested in STEM
1) Understand strengths and weaknesses in Math and Science class
- Middle school Science classes are often a mix of Earth Science, Life Science, and Physical Science. If students can identify what they enjoy doing in their middle school Science classes and what they are good at, they can better understand which AP Science classes to take in high school.
- Students that are proficient in Math in middle school and enjoy doing Math may want to pursue AP Physics when they get to high school.
- Students that are not proficient in Math or do not enjoy Math may want to choose AP Biology, AP Chemistry, and/or AP Environmental Science instead.
2) Accelerate in Math
- The AP Physics courses require strong mathematics skills, so in order to succeed in these classes, students must have a strong math foundation that they have built throughout elementary school and high school
- If students want the opportunity to take AP Physics C in high school, taking Algebra in or before Grade 8 would put them in the best position to do so. Depending on the student’s school, this may require skipping ahead a grade in math in middle school.
Additional Materials
An additional reading of AP Biology and Chemistry: AP Science Planning: Biology, Chemistry, and Pre-AP Guide
If you’re planning to pursue a STEM track and want to learn more about academic strategy, check out our past webinar below:
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